By Our Reporter
Shillong, April 21: A day of tightly contested matches and standout individual performances marked the latest round of the Inter-School Under-18 Cricket Tournament organised by the Shillong Cricket Association, as Sunrise Academy clinched a thrilling two-run victory over Gandhi Buniyadi School, while Shillong Hr Secondary School registered a comfortable six-wicket win against Nongthymmai Nepali School.
Sunrise Academy edge past Gandhi Buniyadi School in thriller
In a match that ebbed and flowed till the final ball, Sunrise Academy held their nerve to register a slender two-run victory over Gandhi Buniyadi School in a low-scoring but fiercely contested encounter.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Gandhi Buniyadi School produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Sunrise Academy to 119/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Harsh led the resistance with a patient 34 off 31 deliveries, while Ashish Kumar contributed a steady 28 off 32 balls to anchor the innings.The bowling unit was spearheaded by Sumit Kumar, who returned impressive figures of 2 for 12 from his four overs, alongside Suraj Kumar, who chipped in with two wickets while conceding 22 runs.
Chasing a modest target, Gandhi Buniyadi School came agonisingly close but eventually fell short at 117/9 in their 20 overs.
Sumit Kumar once again stood out with the bat, remaining unbeaten on 31 off 42 balls, while Navin Rabha added a brisk 27 from 22 deliveries to keep the chase alive.However, Sunrise Academy’s bowlers held their composure in the death overs. Ashish Kumar delivered a match-winning all-round performance, claiming 3 for 19 in his four overs, well supported by Numan Ahmed, who matched the tally with 3 for 21.Ashish Kumar’s impactful display with both bat and ball earned him the Player of the Match award, as Sunrise Academy sealed a dramatic two-run victory.
Shillong Hr Secondary School chase down target against Nongthymmai Nepali School in the second fixture of the day, Shillong Hr Secondary School showcased a more controlled performance to secure a six-wicket win over Nongthymmai Nepali School.After electing to field first, Nongthymmai Nepali School posted 116/7 in their 20 overs. Bikash Paswan was the standout performer with the bat, crafting a solid 46 off 40 deliveries to give his side a competitive total.
Shillong Hr Secondary School’s bowling effort was led by Abhijit Chanda and Sonu Kumar, both of whom picked up two wickets each, conceding 23 and 25 runs respectively.In reply, Shillong Hr Secondary School chased down the target with composure, reaching 119/4 in 19.5 overs.
Gautam Paul anchored the innings with a fluent unbeaten 57 off 38 balls, guiding his side home with calculated aggression and calm temperament.
Suraj Chettri was among the wickets for Nongthymmai Nepali School, finishing with figures of 1 for 23 from his four overs, but the effort proved insufficient against a steady chase.Gautam Paul’s match-winning knock earned him the Player of the Match honours, as Shillong Hr Secondary School wrapped up a convincing six-wicket victory to cap off an engaging day of school cricket.
With nerves, grit and flashes of brilliance on display, the day’s action once again underlined the growing depth of young cricketing talent in the city, promising an even more competitive tournament in the days ahead.
